Category: CLOSED-Character and Language

Using Aristotelian analysis, the nurse can be identified as a stock character. 

              Being bound in service to Medea, the nurse exemplifies the assumed role of a servant in Greek times.  She states, "our masters’ fortunes when they go awry make good slaves grieve and touch their hearts."  As the Nurse recounts on Medea's previous history, she makes it clear that she knows Medea very well.  She also makes it clear that she knows what Medea is capable of, and has a pretty good idea of what is about to happen.  However, although she knows that it Is very likely that Medea will commit violent acts, she can find no fault in her master.  She states "Into the house without delay, come not near her eye, approach her not, beware her savage mood, the fell tempest of her reckless heart. In, in with what speed ye may. For ’tis plain she will soon redouble her fury; that cry is but the herald of the gathering storm-cloud whose lightning soon will flash; what will her proud restless soul, in the anguish of despair, be guilty of?" 

                While the chorus expresses sympathy for Medea, they  object when Medea wishes to slay her own children.   The chorus wishes that Medea would not commit the act.  However, the nurse, knowledgable of what Medea will probably do, states "and I much do dread that she will plunge the keen sword through their hearts."  It is important to remember that while she finds no comfort in the acts Medea will commit, she also finds no fault in Medea.  This is because as a faithful servant, Medea cannot do so.  All of the Nurse's assertions are that of sympathy. 

                When the chorus asks the nurse to try to convince Medea to accept the council they offer, the Nurse states "This will I do; but I doubt whether I shall persuade my mistress."  While the nurse offers that the reason for this might be a refusal to listen to anyone due to her anguish, there is another inference that can be made here.  Because the nurse is seen as lower than Medea, her advice bears no validity to Medea, who is of a higher power than she. *Few edits to be made, more points to come

Jason –

Greek Name meaning "Healer."

Jason is a legendary Greek hero who led the Argonauts.  He sailed to Colchis in order to seize the Golden Fleece.  It was said that the one to retrieve the Golden Fleece would have to power to overthrow a usurper.   In Medea Jason leaves his wife Medea for the Princess.  He only reveals that he on left Medea in order to establish security for his family in the long run.  By doing so this makes Jason the usurper or the one who wrongfully seizes power. 

A Jason is also mentioned in the Biblical books of Acts and Romans, his house is used a refuge by Paul and Silas.

In Medea Jason is a very peculiar character.  Because of his varying behavior and backwards ways of thinking I would place him in the Aristotelian category of Unique.  I would also see him as the foil or the character who takes the brunt of the plot.  Much of the plot is happening to him directly or indirectly.  The death of the Princess, Creon, and his two sons all seem to directly affect him in a negative manner. He tries to play both Medea and the Royal family at the same time.  Each time he speaks to Medea he has a different agenda and tone with her.  Before the play even begins he has already left Medea for the Princess and basically abandoned his two sons.  Once she is told she will be exile, Jason comes to her basically so say "I told you so" but at the same instance offers her help.  He then comes at her request and tells Medea he only left her for the Princess in order to secure the well being of his family in the long run.  This idea to help your family by hurting them is very strange and almost mirrors Medea actions of killing their children in order to obtain revenge on Jason.  Jason comes to Medea in panic after the murder of his new wife and her father.  However, even knowing Medea's wickedness and unstable state of mind, Jason is more concerned to protect his sons from the wrath of the Royal Family then from their own mother.    

(MORE TO COME €¦ I can't keep my eyes open at the moment)

                Using Aristotelian analysis, the chorus would be classified as a "character" that is like us.  Compared to Antigone, the chorus plays much less of a participative role in the plot of the play.  Instead, as the chorus speaks, it seems to be observing the events that are unfolding and commenting on them.    

              Towards the beginning of play, we, the audience, are presented with the fact that Medea has been abandoned by her husband Jason.  The reason Medea is abandoned is simply because Jason has the opportunity to marry a Princess.  Medea has done nothing wrong herself.  Looking upon the situation, it is quite likely that the audience would feel sympathetic towards Medea's grief.  The chorus makes its sympathy for Medea quite clear.  The chorus states "I do grieve, lady, for the sorrows of this house, for it hath won my love."

            As Medea is still grieving the fact that Jason has left her, Creon comes to tell her that she will be exiled.  Once again, the chorus expresses its feelings, very typical of how an audience would feel toward a woman who has been abandoned by her husband only to be exiled by her King.  The chorus states "Ah! poor lady, woe is thee! Alas, for thy sorrows! Whither wilt thou turn? What protection, what home or country to save thee from thy troubles wilt thou find? O Medea, in what a hopeless sea of misery heaven hath plunged thee!"

            As the play continues, however, Medea makes it clear that she wishes to kill her children in an effort to get even with Jason.  While these children have played no fault in Jason's abandonment of Medea, a reaction from the audience would most likely be repulsion from a mother's murder of her own children.  The chorus, feeling as we would, states it views on Medea's plan by stating "’Think on the murder of thy children, consider the bloody deed thou takest on thee. Nay, by thy knees we, one and all, implore thee, slay not thy babes."  The chorus additionally states "Where shall hand or heart find hardihood enough in wreaking such a fearsome deed upon thy sons? How wilt thou look upon thy babes, and still without a tear retain thy bloody purpose? Thou canst not, when they fall at thy feet for mercy, steel thy heart and dip in their blood thy hand." 

            Under Aristotelian analysis, Medea can be classified as a character who is larger than life.  The implication's of Medea's actions exceed Medea herself. 

            Medea, greatly disturbed by her husband's infidelity, plots against her own King and husband in an effort to satisfy her need for revenge.  First, Medea sacrifices her belonging to the state of Thebes and security for her revenge.  By displaying "sullen looks" and "angry thoughts," Medea attracts Creon's attention.  After Creon exiles her, Medea does not beg for forgiveness.  As she proves to be a master of manipulation as the play progresses, Medea does not use this power to stay in Thebes.  Instead, she only asks for a day, so she can implement her plan that will ruin Creon, his daughter, and Jason.  A fundamental part of Medea's plan involves fleeing from Thebes after she has carried out the deed against the three that have humiliated her.  By fleeing Thebes, she sacrifices her own security and contact with Thebes.  When she begs for another day, Medea has no knowledge of Aegeus’ coming, so it is very probable that Medea may have envisioned herself wandering the land outside of Thebes looking for a city state that would take in the murderer of a King.(" Nor have I any landing-place to come at in my trouble")      

            By plotting against Creon, Medea goes against the Greek ideals of loyalty to the King and City State.  Additionally, by plotting against her husband, Medea goes against Patriacal Greek Values.  "Divorce is not honourable to women,"  "a captive I from a foreign shore," "without resenting the yoke, our life is a happy one; if not, ’twere best to die. But when a man is vexed with what he finds indoors, he goeth forth and rids his soul of its disgust, betaking him to some friend or comrade of like age; whilst we must needs regard his single self" are all quotes from Medea's mouth that identify these values of Greek society.  By plotting against her husband, Medea is breaking the accepted norms of Greek society.  She suggests that a wife has a right to retaliate against the wrongs committed by her husband. 

            In an effort to get revenge with her husband, Medea also sacrifices her own children.  Early in the course of the play, Medea states "I would gladly take my stand in battle array three times o’er, than once give birth."  Cutting of any ties to her family, and sacrificing the very children who have caused her much toil to bear, Medea murders her children in an effort to cause Jason great agony.  Most importantly, Medea throws away a mother's bond to her children in an effort to get even with Jason. 

                      Medea can also be seen as the antagonist within the play.  She stands in the way of Jason’s plan of marrying Creon’s daughter and becoming royalty.  When Jason believes that he has finally accomplished his goal, Medea implements her plan of revenge, killing both his would be wife(princess) and his would be father in law.    

Important Characteristics to describe Medea- Proud, manipulative, vengeful. 

Medea- Meaning  “to ponder”, “cunning.”

Creon- Meaning “ruler.”

Aegeus- Meaning “protection”, “shield.”